Exclusive - Kelly Bensimon from 'The Real Housewives of New York City' Dishes on Her New Jewelry Line

This real housewife has a real jewelry line. Are you buying? Photo: Theo Wargo, Getty Images

Kelly Killoren Bensimon from "The Real Housewives of New York City" is having another go as a jewelry designer after being called a bijoux copycat by Tuleste Market designer Celeste Greenberg over last season's owl-pendant designs. (For the record, Benisimon claims Greenberg did it for the press, and says the fight is over.)

Now the model/designer/reality star is moving beyond the negativity and onto a new collection, dubbed "Kelly," which she designed alongside jewelry giant Pascal Mouawad.

StyleList snagged an exclusive interview with Bensimon on her new venture.

StyleList: What was the inspiration behind your Kelly line?

Kelly Killoren Bensimon: I was sitting at the Anna Sui fashion show and I was looking at all of her Native American-inspired clothing and I thought, I love that look. But the bad thing about Pocahontas is that she's, like, in the kayaks.

So I took her out of the kayak and into the disco so she could have a little fun. The core of the line is Navajo and American Indian inspired, with big cuffs and bangles. There are also earrings and medallions, because I love the idea of layering medallions. It's all base metal and Swarovski crystals.

KKB: I love the idea of the snake because it's mysterious and also alluring. I wanted to do something that was unusual, but classic. So when you look at it it's beautiful, but you look closer and it's a snake.

StyleList: Were you conscious of making the prices accessible?

KKB: After being the editor of ELLE Accessories I saw that there was a huge void in the market. I wanted teenagers to be able to go and buy a pair of bangles at a good price. You don't have to be rich to look good. You can buy a $30 pair of earrings and it can change the way you feel. And that's awesome.

Beautiful and dangerous -- we're willing to take the risk! Photos: Kelly Bensimon

StyleList.com: Do you have any big accessories dos and don'ts?

KKB: People don't think you can mix gold and silver, but I love to mix it up with one arm full of gold bangles and the other silver. You can really do whatever you want as long as you're confident.